ABC AUSTRALIA, 31/01/2003 11:20:44
Planned attack foiled by Bali investigation
31/01/2003 11:20:44 | AM
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New details are emerging this morning from the investigation into the October 12 Bali
bombing. Just a day after Indonesian authorities confirmed that the fundamentalist
Muslim cleric, Abu Bakar Bashir, gave his blessing to the attack, it's now emerged
that investigators foiled another attack planned by the terrorist organisation, Jemaah
Islamiah, in the aftermath of the Bali attack.
Transcript:
LINDA MOTTRAM: New details are emerging this morning from the investigation into
the October 12 Bali bombing.
Just a day after Indonesian authorities confirmed that the fundamentalist Muslim
cleric, Abu Bakar Bashir, gave his blessing to the attack, it's now emerged that
investigators foiled another attack planned by the terrorist organisation, Jemaah
Islamiah, in the aftermath of the Bali attack.
The revelation to AM has come from the Australian Federal Police Commissioner
Mick Keelty.
He spoke this morning to Jo Mazzocchi.
MICK KEELTY: Look, I think the knowledge of Jemaah Islamiah, as a group, as an
entity, in terms of terrorist operations, was fairly limited before the Bali bombings, and
if it wasn't for the work of Indonesian national police and, you know, we've assisted in
that, I think we would have probably had another event occur, using the skills and the
knowledge that Jemaah Islamiah has accumulated over time.
JO MAZZOCCHI: An attack was always likely?
MICK KEELTY: Yes, and in fact, the investigation has uncovered another attack that
was due to take place late last year.
JO MAZZOCCHI: In Australia?
MICK KEELTY: No, it was in Asia.
JO MAZZOCCHI: Can you say where?
MICK KEELTY: Ah, the attack was a second attack in Indonesia that has been foiled
through the arrest of the people responsible, particularly Samudra and Ali Imron.
So it is clear that they were not only sophisticated, but they were very determined in
what they were going to do.
JO MAZZOCCHI: In central Jakarta?
MICK KEELTY: Ah, look, I can't say where it was going to occur, it was going to
occur in Indonesia. The fact that these people have been arrested beforehand has
foiled that attempt, and it just heightens the sense of urgency that we have to have in
dealing with Jemaah Islamiah as quickly as possible.
JO MAZZOCCHI: In a broader sense, did you ever expect the role of Jemaah Islamiah
to cast such a wide net?
MICK KEELTY: That's an interesting question, I think what the investigation has
uncovered is in-depth knowledge of Jemaah Islamiah that was beyond the
comprehension of many agencies in the region.
It has been a very sophisticated operation by Jemaah Islamiah, and our knowledge of
Jemaah Islamiah, and its operations in the region now, unfortunately through the Bali
bombings, is much greater than it ever would have been.
JO MAZZOCCHI: Do you think that the fundamentalist Islamic cleric Abu Bakar
Bashir will face prosecution?
MICK KEELTY: He certainly appears set to face prosecution for the bombings that,
what's known as the church bombings in December 2000. I think the evidence is now
mounting against him for his involvement in the Bali bombings.
JO MAZZOCCHI: What about concerns that, if and when he is charged, that that will
heighten reprisal attacks, both in Asia and Australia?
MICK KEELTY: I think that, in terms of reprisals, there may have been reprisals if
people thought he was being wrongly accused, or wrongly arrested. I think now that
there's growing evidence, not only of his involvement in the Bali bombings, but
certainly his involvement in the previous bombings and also the plan to murder
President Megawati.
LINDA MOTTRAM: The Australian Federal Police Commissioner, Mick Keelty,
speaking to our reporter, Jo Mazzocchi.
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31/01/2003 11:20:44 | ABC Radio Australia News
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